Customary System

The Customary system is the measurement the
USA uses. It has units of length, capacity &
weight.

These are the countries that use the customary system.

Length

The main attributes of length :

• inches (in./")
• feet (ft./')
• yards (yd.)
• miles (mi.)

You can convert units of length.

1 foot	12 inches
1 yard	36 inches/ 3 feet
1 mile	36,360 inches/ 5,280 feet/ 1,760 yards

You can have personal references too!

• tip of your thumb to the first joint
• from your elbow joint to your knuckles

Weight
The main attributes of weight are:

• ounces (oz.)
• pounds (lb.)
• tons (T.)

You can convert units of weight.

1 pound	16 ounces
1 ton	32,000 ounces/ 2,000 pounds

You can have personal references too!

• a loaf of bread weighs about a pound
• a car weighs about a ton

Capacity
The main attributes of capacity are:

• fluid ounces (fl.oz.)
• cups (c.)
• pints (pt.)
• quarts (qt.)
• gallons (gal.)

You can convert units of capacity.

1 cup	8 fluid ounces
1 pint	16 fluid ounces/ 2 cups
1 quart	32 fluid ounces/ 4 cups/ 2 pints
1 gallon	128 fluid ounces/ 16 cups/ 8 pints/ 4 quarts

You can have personal references too!

• a regular mug of tea is about a cup
• a large jug of milk is a gallon
• a soft drink tin contaner is about 12 fl. oz.

Tip on converting
This goes for all units of measure, even
for weight and capacity---you must
divide when you want to change to a larger
unit. If you want to change to a
smaller unit, multiply.

Links
Capacity drills
Weight drills
Length drills
COE education
Quiz



Now, here's the...

Metric system

Many countries use the metric system.
it consistes of units of length, capacity and
mass.

These are the countries that use the metric system.

Length

The main attributes of length are:

• millimeter (mm)
• centimeter (cm)
• meter (m)
• kilometer (km)

You can convert units of length.
For more info on metric convertion,
click here.

1 centimeter	10 millimeters
1 meter	1,000 millimeters/ 100 centimeter
1 kilometer	1,000,000 milimeters/ 100,000 centimeters/ 1,000 meters

You can have personal references too!

• 1 millimeter is about the thickness of a dime
• 1 centimeter is about the width of your fingernail
• 1 meter is about the width of a door

Capacity
The main attributes of capacity are:

• milliliters (mL)
• liters (L)

You can convert units of capacity.

1 liter

1,000 milliliters

You can also have personal references too!

• 1 milliliter is about the volume of an eyedropper
• 1 liter is about the volume of a small pitcher

Mass
The main attributes of mass are:

• milligram (mg)
• gram (g)
• kilogram (kg)

You can convert units of mass.

1 gram	1,000 milligrams
1 kilogram	1,000,000 milligrams/ 1,000 grams

You can have personal references too!

• 1 milligram is about the mass of a grain of salt
• 1 gram is about the mass of a paper clip
• 1 kilogram is about the mass of six apples

Links
COE Education
Math League
AAA math
Helpful Learning Activity
Drill & Practice